2008 Woodie Awards
Raycliff Manor houses 'Disney villan'
A behind the scenes look
Alexandra Nicolas
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Life
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Theatre department costumer Matthew Myers, who dons a corset, fake breasts, a red wig and heavy make-up for his role as Miranda Starling at the Raycliff Manor haunted attraction is just one of the many who prepare extensively to frighten and amuse patrons every weekend in October.
"You're looking especially bloody tonight," said actor Meg Berrian to Myers referencing the artificial slashes across his ample cleavage, created by duct tape and a corset he made.
Raycliff Manor, owned and operated by Kelly Allen, uses large-scale set dressing, special effects, and illusions along with actors known as the "fright team" to provide what Allen hopes is a step above any standard 'spook house' experience.
"We try to take it beyond," he said. "We really want to raise the bar on haunted attractions."
Hours before guests arrive at the haunt, the fright team rotates through the small second floor make-up room, stuffed with costumes and vintage horror movie posters, where they are airbrushed, costumed and decked-out by the staff of student make-up artists.
While some actors have been trained to apply their own make-up, others undergo elaborate makeovers done by Nathan McCallister, junior studio art major, and Katie Vestal, senior theatre major. Using liquid latex, contact lenses, toilet paper and both stage and airbrush makeup, the artists work their way through the cast.
"It's kind of like painting a model car, only it's a person," McCallister said.
Vestal does her own detailed make-up including peeling latex to simulate burned skin in addition to working on other actors.
"I probably put too much on, but I love it," she said as she cringed, peeling latex 'skin' from her forehead.
Allen prefers the fright team in make-up instead of masks, however in the interest of time McCallister, who airbrushes actors up to opening time, dons a form fitting silicon mask for his part as 'the butcher.'
"It's easy to slip on and it looks like you're in make-up," he said. "We adapt well. Time is money in Hollywood."
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